The Bermuda Football Association released the following statement in the wake of news that football has been suspended until further notice owing to the recent spate of gun violence:

The BFA Executive Committee held another Emergency meeting last evening in order to discuss the incidents of the past week.

After much discussion and consultation, the BFA has decided to cancel Premier Division, First Division, PDL and a youth match scheduled for this weekend. Instead, we will meet on Sunday with our member clubs to develop an action plan on how BFA can work with other organisations and the Government to tackle this major Bermuda problem. Now is A TIME FOR PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE.

The primary aim of association football around the world is to organise and promote the sport of football. We take pride in the fact that the BFA organises hundreds of matches involving thousands of people from all walks of life. This activity amounts to approximately three million hours of sporting activity each year, from the heat of September, to the cold of January and ending during the warmth of April. Most of this happens without incident — especially incidents off the field and outside the grounds. The BFA and its predecessors have been doing this since the early 1900s.

However, there are times when everyone in Bermuda must pause and note what is going on around us. The antisocial behaviour and the gun violence that is affecting Bermuda as a whole must stop. We want law-abiding citizens to take positive action at every level. We must look our sons and daughters in the eye and do all we can to ensure that they are not involved in guns and violence. If they are, we must show them a way out of it. We must tell them that it is A TIME FOR PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE.

A message to those involved in antisocial behaviour and violent deadly crime:

Stop. Think about it. Seek help. Instead of killing your brother, neighbour, cousin, friend or school buddy, lay down the weapons, extend a hand of peace and free your mind from the mental prison of antisocial behaviour. Instead of violence behind dark helmets, take the braver step and sit face to face at a table of peace and reconciliation with mediators. Instead of having geographical boundaries within Bermuda, work towards having personal freedom and welcoming arms around the whole of Bermuda. Instead of watching your back, look forward to all the positive things that life in Bermuda and beyond can offer you. It is A TIME FOR PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE.

Football has played a very important role in the development of people in Bermuda. So too have our clubs, our schools, our churches, our police, our local and international businesses and, of course, our Government. We all want the best for you. All our organisations are here for you individually and for your groups/communities.

• All our organisations extend our hand to you — will you extend your hands to us?

• To the group leaders, there is a seat for you at a table of peace and reconciliation. Will you come and sit at the table?

• There is an ear to listen to all of you? Will you let us listen to you?

• There are positive things to be done for all of you — individually and for your communities. Will you let us do some of those things?

• There is an opportunity to play a Football Game for Peace. Will you come and play a Football Game for Peace? Will you shake hands before and after the game? Will you help each other up after a fall?

There is a TIME FOR PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE. That time is now. Let us all make it happen together.